After a journey under leaden skies that rained on the waiting public, Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin spent a last night at Buckingham Palace before ceremonial events leading up to Monday’s state funeral.
The late monarch was driven in a new state hearse designed by Jaguar-Land Rover from Northolt military airport and through London streets brought to a standstill by the cortege.
With a glass roof and large side windows, the hearse was designed to give members of the public a clear view and thousands watched on as it made its journey.
Interior lights shone brightly in the gloomy London evening, illuminating the coffin draped in a royal standard, with a wreath of Balmoral blooms.
As it travelled, sections of busy roads such as the A40 came to a halt, with drivers standing by the central reservation while the public lined the pavements.
At moments, there was applause and cheers and a few blooms were thrown into the path of the state hearse, and when it neared Buckingham Palace three cheers went up, with people lighting up the area with the torches on their camera phones, holding them above their heads.
The royal family turned out to witness the arrival of the queen's coffin at Buckingham Palace, the London residence affectionately known as the “office”.
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla were surrounded by the late monarch’s children and grandchildren and their partners, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The coffin will stay for one night in the palace’s bow room before the public are given the chance to pay their respects when she lies in state at the ancient Westminster Hall for four days.
Anne, the Princess Royal, who travelled with the queen on her journey from Balmoral to London through Edinburgh alongside husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, gave a moving tribute to her mother after the military plane carrying her coffin arrived at London’s RAF Northolt.
Princess Anne said she was “fortunate” to be able to share “the last 24 hours of my dearest mother’s life”.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys,” she said.
“Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting.
“We will all share unique memories. I offer my thanks to each and every one who share our sense of loss.”
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The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Buckingham Palace in London, where it will rest overnight in the Bow Room. AP -
Interior lights shine brightly in the gloomy London evening, illuminating the coffin draped in a royal standard. Reuters -
People take photos as the hearse arrives at Buckingham Palace. Reuters -
The hearse continues on its sombre journey into the palace. PA -
Drivers and passengers get out of their cars to watch as the hearse passes along the A40 in west London. AP -
The hearse passes Marble Arch in London. EPA -
Tears as the cortege carrying the coffin passes. AP -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II leaves RAF Northolt, west London. Getty Images -
Mourners queue in the streets waiting for the hearse to pass. AP -
The cortege passes Wellington Arch in London. PA
King Charles travelled to Northern Ireland on Tuesday on his tour of the home nations and he pledged to “seek the welfare” of all Northern Ireland’s people.
The king described how his family have felt their “sorrows” as the queen’s peace-building efforts were praised.
The king, who in 2015 made a pilgrimage to the site of his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten’s killing in an IRA bombing, said the queen had “never ceased to pray for the best of times for this place and its people”.
Speaking at Hillsborough Castle in County Down, the royal residence in Northern Ireland, the new monarch said the late queen was aware of her position in bringing together divided communities “whom history had separated”.
Procession of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin through Edinburgh — in pictures
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Members of the royal family arrive to attend a vigil at St Giles' Cathedral, in Edinburgh, on Monday for Queen Elizabeth II. AFP -
People queue to enter St Giles' Cathedral where Queen Elizabeth's coffin arrived earlier on Monday. It will rest there for 24 hours to enable the people of Scotland to pay their last respects. AP -
The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, for a service of prayer and reflection. -
The Earl and Countess of Wessex and the Duke of York leave St Giles' Cathedral after the service of prayer and reflection for the queen's life on Monday. -
The Princess Royal, her husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, King Charles III and the Queen Consort leave St Giles' Cathedral after the service of prayer and reflection for Queen Elizabeth II's life. -
People attend the procession of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin, from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles' Cathedral, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Monday. AP -
The Crown of Scotland sits on the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II inside St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. AFP -
King Charles, Princess Royal Anne, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence walk behind the hearse as it moves along the Royal Mile from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty -
King Charles III follows Queen Elizabeth II's coffin as it enters the cathedral for a service of prayer and reflection at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh. PA -
King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward follow the hearse carrying the coffin of their mother, Queen Elizabeth, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Reuters -
King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew walk behind the hearse. Reuters -
The Royal Company of Archers, the King's Bodyguard for Scotland, arrive at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. AFP -
The hearse carrying the coffin of the queen travels slowly on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Reuters -
Members of the public gather to watch the procession, from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral, on the Royal Mile. AFP -
Royal guards carry Queen Elizabeth's coffin at the start of the procession. PA -
Royal archers outside St. Giles' Cathedral. Getty -
British Prime Minister Liz Truss attends a Service of Prayer and Reflection for the Life of Queen Elizabeth at St Giles' Cathedral. PA -
Crowds gather near Mercat Cross ahead of the procession in Edinburgh. PA -
King Charles with Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge at the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. PA -
King Charles inspects the Guard of Honour as he arrives for the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Getty -
A young girl holds a Paddington bear and a Corgi dog stuffed toys while waiting to watch the procession. Getty -
The Keys of the City of Edinburgh, to be offered to King Charles, during the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. AFP -
Crowds gather to watch the procession in Edinburgh. AP -
King Charles talks with Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as he arrives at Edinburgh Airport. Reuters -
A convoy of cars with King Charles heads to Holyroodhouse. AP -
The honour guard outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse. AFP -
Police officers keep guard ahead of the arrival King Charles in Edinburgh. Reuters
On the steps of the grand entrance, King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla were joined by Prince William and his wife Kate, and Prince Harry and his wife Meghan.
Also there were the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children Lady Louise and Viscount Severn, as well as the Duke of York and his daughters Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice and their husbands Jack Brooksbank and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
Lady Sarah Chatto and Earl Snowdon, the children of the queen's sister Princess Margaret, were among those paying their respects.
The UK mourns Queen Elizabeth II — in pictures
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A tribute altar for Queen Elizabeth II in Green Park in London. AFP -
Ann Doran, 6, looks at floral tributes left in Green Park. Reuters -
Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, look at floral tributes on the Sandringham Estate. AFP -
A drawing of the queen and her husband Prince Philip among flowers outside Windsor Castle. AFP -
Members of the public view floral tributes in Green Park, near Buckingham Palace. PA -
People queue on a bridge over the river Thames to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth in London. Reuters -
A member of the public lights a candle at Windsor Parish Church. AFP -
Residents of the Lawn care home in Alton, Hampshire, decorate an area with photographs of Queen Elizabeth, bunting and their own flower arrangements. PA -
Lloyd's of London chief John Neal delivers remarks honouring the life of Queen Elizabeth during a remembrance ceremony in the atrium of the company's offices in London. Getty Images -
Joyce Buckley, a sponge decorator at Emma Bridgewater pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, paints a commemorative mug. PA -
A royalist standing in front of Buckingham Palace. AFP -
Tributes to Queen Elizabeth are viewed at St James's Park in London. Reuters -
Crowds gather outside St. Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile as the queen's coffin passes in Edinburgh. Bloomberg -
Chelsea Pensioners attend a Drumhead service of remembrance, with readings and prayers, in London. Getty Images -
An image of Queen Elizabeth at Green Park Tube station. Reuters -
Vanessa, Anne and Grace, from left to right, wait opposite the Palace of Westminster to be first in line bidding farewell to Queen Elizabeth in London. AP -
A young girl holds Paddington Bear and Corgi stuffed toys while waiting to watch the procession of Queen Elizabeth's coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Reuters -
Well-wishers outside Windsor Castle. Getty Images -
Lloyd Smith paints a portrait of Queen Elizabeth in London. AFP -
A child lays flowers outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. AP -
A family leaves flowers outside Buckingham Palace. EPA -
Flowers and tributes, including sunflowers and a Paddington Bear, are left for Queen Elizabeth at the Green Park memorial in London. AP -
People start to camp on The Mall ahead of Queen Elizabeth's coffin being taken from Buckingham Palace on Wednesday afternoon by procession on a Gun Carriage to the Palace of Westminster. PA -
Flowers left in St James's Park, London. PA -
A man with his dog arrive early as they wait to view the cortege carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh. Getty Images -
Members of the public gather on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh to watch the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. PA -
Crowds watch as the hearse continues its journey to the Palace of Holyroodhouse from Balmoral. PA -
The hearse passing over Queensferry Crossing on its way to Edinburgh. PA -
Flowers left at the Sandringham Estate, one of the queen's residences. EPA -
A Paddington Bear teapot at the Sandringham Estate. EPA -
Flowers left at the gates of the Sandringham Estate. EPA -
Flowers, cards and messages left in St James's Park in London. EPA -
People lay flowers at Buckingham Palace in London. Reuters
Standing in the palace’s quadrangle was a guard of honour formed by the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards and they gave the royal salute as the hearse came to a stop.
The bearer party, from the Queen’s Company 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, carried the coffin into the bow room and in a poignant moment, the sovereign’s piper, Pipe Maj Paul Burns of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, played a lament.
